This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
On June 16, 2020, TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) and the European Union signed a €5 million agreement to support the Safe Trade Emergency Facility in Kenya.
The deal, worth Sh602.2 million, was signed in the presence of Cabinet Secretary for Industry, Trade & Co-operatives Betty Maina and Secretary for EAC Affairs & Regional Development Adan Mohamed.
The Safe Trade Facility is an emergency programme rolled out by TMEA in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to complement East African Governments' efforts to keep safe trade flowing.
EU Ambassador to Kenya Simon Mordue said the programme will fund short to medium-term measures to protect critical supply chains and keep borders open, preventing job losses and protecting livelihoods.
“The European Union is the largest common market in the world. I am therefore happy to support this Safe Trade Emergency Facility in Kenya not only as a donor but also by drawing on the EU’s knowledge and experience,” he said.
The programme will provide mobile testing labs at Mombasa port and key border crossings, personal protective equipment for staff, and information at major border crossings.
TMEA will also introduce a tracking application linked to the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS) platform to monitor trucks and drivers.
The programme aims to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at trade hubs and support regional trade in these unprecedented times.
